Escorted Tours 2020 & 2021 - 2nd Edition - Mercury Holidays

For full tour itineraries, please visit us online at www.mercuryholidays.co.uk/tours INDIAN SUBCONTINENT 23 MEAL PLAN: All meals included ACCOMMODATION Bangalore 1 night 4 ★ St Mark’s Hotel Mysore 2 nights 4 ★ Radisson Blu Plaza Kabini 2 nights 4 ★ Serai Resort Ooty 2 nights 4 ★ Gem Park Hotel Madurai 2 nights 5 ★ Heritage Resort Munnar 2 nights 4 ★ Tea County Resort Alleppey 1 night Deluxe Houseboat Cochin 2 nights 5 ★ Hotel Inn Cochin 16 days from £1,649pp TOUR HIGHLIGHTS ✔ City tours of Bangalore, Mysore, Munnar and Cochin ✔ Jeep and boat wildlife safaris in Kabini ✔ Ride the Nilgiri Mountain Railway from the town of Ooty ✔ Wander through the renowned Meenakshi Amman Hindu Temple in Madurai ✔ Overnight cruise of Alleppey’s backwaters on a traditional houseboat From colonial railways crossing bottomless gorges to priceless temple craft work depicting spiritual legends, our in-depth itinerary immerses you in India’s Hindu heartland. PACE: Meenakshi Amman Hindu Temple, Madurai DEPARTURES & FROM PRICES 2022 DEPARTURES AT 2021 PRICES CONTACT US FOR DATES • Prices based on flights from London Heathrow to India with Emirates (via Dubai) • Regional departures available • Rooms available with no single supplement. Once sold, single supplement starts from £499 DUBAI 2 nights 4 ★ B&B from £129 or 2 nights 5 ★ B&B from £179 KERALA BEACH STAY 3 nights 3.5 ★ Full Board from £199 or 3 nights 5 ★ Full Board from £359 MUMBAI 3 nights 4 ★ B&B from £389 Visit our website to learn more about our extensions. EXTEND YOUR TOUR WONDERS OF SOUTH INDIA 12 Nov 20 £2,059 26 Nov 20 £2,119 14 Jan 21 £2,299 21 Jan 21 £2,179 04 Feb 21 £1,999 18 Feb 21 £1,979 04 Mar 21 £1,999 11 Mar 21 £1,929 22 Apr 21 £1,749 06 May 21 £1,779 20 May 21 £1,649 16 Sep 21 £1,739 30 Sep 21 £1,879 14 Oct 21 £1,939 28 Oct 21 £1,969 11 Nov 21 £1,989 DAY 1: UK TO BANGALORE Depart London on your scheduled, overnight flight, via Dubai. DAY 2: BANGALORE B/L/D On arrival, you will be met by a local guide and transferred to your hotel. After settling in, discover this cosmopolitan city on your afternoon tour. Visit the Bull Temple, wander through Lalbagh Botanical Gardens and marvel at the colossal Vidhan Soudha. In the evening, sample local delights at your welcome meal. DAY 3: BANGALORE TO MYSORE B/L/D Following breakfast, depart for Srirangapatnam. Cross the main bridge over the Cauvery River to discover intriguing monuments documenting South India’s power struggles. Later, proceed to your hotel. DAY 4: MYSORE B/L/D Boasting a glittering royal heritage and bustling marketplaces, journey into the heart of Mysore, with a visit to Mysore Palace. Atop the nearby Chamundi hills, visit the Chamundi Temple. DAY 5: MYSORE TO KABINI B/L/D This morning travel to Kabini - wild wetlands that surround the Kabini River. Upon arrival, enjoy the remainder of today at leisure. DAY 6: KABINI B/L/D This morning, explore the surrounding jungle in search of wildlife on a Jeep safari, followed by an afternoon river safari. DAY 7: KABINI TO OOTY B/L/D After breakfast journey to the hill station of Ooty. For the next two nights, your elevated position offers stunning views across the southern plains and tea gardens that hug the sloping terrain. DAY 8: OOTY B/L/D The Nilgiri Mountain Railway transports passengers through a series of gauges, across lofty bridges and around hillsides blanketed by tea plantations. Having completed this route, head to a Kathakali cultural show. DAY 9: OOTY TO MADURAI B/L/D Today, journey to ancient Madurai, where you’ll witness a night ceremony at it’s largest temple. DAY 10: MADURAI B/L/D This morning visit one of India’s grandest temples, Meenakshi Amman Temple. The pinnacle of your visit lies within the ‘Hall of a Thousand Pillars’. DAY 11: MADURAI TO MUNNAR B/L/D Following breakfast, cross into Kerala arriving in Munnar. The rest of your day is at leisure. DAY 12: MUNNAR B/L/D Today visit Mattupetty Lake and Echo Point, discover the origins of your morning tea at a plantation and witness the unforgettable Jungle Honey Bee Nest. DAY 13: MUNNAR TO ALLEPPEY B/L/D In the morning, travel to Alleppy where you’ll board a traditional houseboat and enjoy a leisurely, overnight cruise through winding backwaters. DAY 14: ALLEPPEY TO COCHIN B/L/D Disembark this morning for a half-day tour of Cochin, a hub of dynamic culture, with a visit to Mattancherry Palace, then onto the edifice of St Francis Church. DAY 15: COCHIN B/L/D Enjoy a full-day of leisure in Cochin. DAY 16: COCHIN TO THE UK B Depart your hotel after breakfast and transfer to the airport for your flight back to the UK, via Dubai or continue on to your chosen extension. B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner FOR YOU TO KNOW: A visa and travel insurance are required when travelling to India and must be obtained before travel. Tips: We recommend you allow approximately £45pp for the duration of your tour. SOLO GROUP 25/05/21 and 21/09/21 from £2,039 Travel with like-minded people. KERALA BEACH STAY from £379 DUBAI from £299 1 2 Mysore Madurai 2 2 2     < < Kabini Bangalore 2 1 Munnar Cochin Alleppey • Srirangapatna • Ooty  • India  2 1 Number of nights Coach Rail Boat UPGRADE TO A PRIVATE TOUR FROM £149 PER PERSON